The artwork “Study for the Madonna with the Fruit Bowl” was created by Leonardo da Vinci around 1478 in Milan, Italy. It is a sketch and study executed in ink on paper, measuring approximately 35.8 x 25.2 cm. The piece exemplifies the Early Renaissance art movement and is currently preserved in the Louvre, Paris, France.
The artwork presents a delicate rendering of two figures, likely representing the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, a common subject in Renaissance art, captured intimately in a moment of tenderness. The composition showcases Leonardo’s mastery in studying human poses and expressiveness. The lines are sketched with precision and fluidity, suggesting motion and softness in the figures’ interaction. The Madonna gently engages with the child, who appears to be looking up at her while reaching out, creating a poignant scene of maternal connection. The fruit bowl, though not depicted in detail, serves as a probable symbolic element of fertility or the Passion of Christ, a traditional aspect in representations of this religious theme. Leonardo’s use of varied line weights adds depth and contour to the study, making it a valuable insight into his preparatory process for a larger, possibly unrealized, composition.
